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Calculating The Length of A Line Segment

This document discusses calculating the length of a line segment and finding the midpoint between two points. It provides worked examples of using the distance formula and calculating averages of coordinates to find the midpoint. The document concludes with an exercise involving plotting points, calculating distances between points, and finding midpoints of line segments for various pairs of points.

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linn
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59 views

Calculating The Length of A Line Segment

This document discusses calculating the length of a line segment and finding the midpoint between two points. It provides worked examples of using the distance formula and calculating averages of coordinates to find the midpoint. The document concludes with an exercise involving plotting points, calculating distances between points, and finding midpoints of line segments for various pairs of points.

Uploaded by

linn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

Calculating the length of a line segment


A line segment is formed when two points are joined by a straight line.

Worked example
The coordinates of two points are (1, 3) and (5, 6). Draw a pair of axes, plot the given
points and calculate the distance between them.

By dropping a vertical line from the point


(5, 6) and drawing a horizontal line from (1, 3),
a right-angled triangle is formed. The length of
the hypotenuse of the triangle is the length we
wish to find.
Using Pythagoras’ theorem, we have:
a2 = 32 + 42 = 25
a = 25 = 5
The length of the line segment is 5 units.
To find the distance between two points directly from their coordinates, use the
following formula:
d = √ (x 1−x 2)2 +( y 1− y 2)2

Worked example
Without plotting the points, calculate the distance between the points (1, 3)
and (5, 6).

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

d = √(1−5)2 +(3−6)2
= √(−4)2 +(−3)2
= √ 16+9
= √ 25 = 5
The distance between the two points is 5 units.

The midpoint of a line segment


 the x-coordinate of the midpoint is equal to the mean of the x-coordinates of the end
points.
 the y-coordinate of the midpoint is equal to the mean of the y-coordinates of the
end points.

Worked examples
(a) Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment AB where A is (1, 3) and B is (5, 6).

1+ 5
The x-coordinate of the midpoint will be =3
2
3+6
The y-coordinate of the midpoint will be =4.5
2
So, the coordinates of the midpoint are (3, 4.5)

(b) Find the coordinates of the midpoint of a line segment PQ where P is (−2, −5) and Q is (4, 7).

−2+4
The x-coordinate of the midpoint will be =1
2
−5+7
The y-coordinate of the midpoint will be =1
2
So, the coordinates of the midpoint are (1, 1).

Exercise 21.13
1 (i) Plot each of the following pairs of points.

(ii) Calculate the distance between each pair of points.

(iii) Find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment joining the two points.

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

a. (5, 6) (1, 2)

b. (6, 4) (3, 1)

c. (1, 4) (5, 8)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

d. (0, 0) (4, 8)

e. (2, 1) (4, 7)

f. (0, 7) (−3, 1)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

g. (−3, −3) (−1, 5)

h. (4, 2) (−4, −2)

i. (−3, 5) (4, 5)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

j. (2, 0) (2, 6)

k. (−4, 3) (4, 5)

l. (3, 6) (−3, −3)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

2 Without plotting the points:


i calculate the distance between each of the following pairs of points
ii find the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment joining the two points.
a. (1, 4) (4, 1)

b. (3, 6) (7, 2)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

c . (2, 6) (6, −2)

c. (1, 2) (9, −2)

d. (0, 3) (−3, 6)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

e. (−3, −5) (−5, −1)

f. (−2, 6) (2, 0)

h. (2, −3) (8, 1)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

i. (6, 1) (−6, 4)

j. (−2, 2) (4, −4)

k. (−5, −3) (6, −3)

Tr Lynn
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics Core and Extended Calculating the length of a line segment and midpoint

l. (3, 6) (5, −2)

Tr Lynn

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